Sanctifying the LORD
Numbers 20:2-13
Call to Attention
1. Moses was a meek and humble individual; he was not
disposed to rash anger or actions. (Nu. 12:3)
a. Nevertheless in our text,
Moses allowed his passion to be stirred, and he acted foolishly. 20:2-13
b. The Psalmist tells us Moses’ rash
speech was provoked by the people’s rebellion. Ps. 106:32-33
(1) Moses’
sin was two-fold:
(a) He
disobeyed the explicit command of God to speak to the rock; instead he struck it
twice.
(b) He
took credit for the miracle instead of glorifying God; the LORD is asking, “Who
is we?”
(2) Moses
spoke when he should have been silent, and he struck when he should have spoken.
2. The LORD dealt swiftly and severely with Moses and
Aaron’s sin.
a. Neither man would be allowed
to enter the Promised Land; Moses’ later appeal was denied. (De. 3:23-26)
(1) This
text vividly displays God’s justice in dealing with sin, even in His faithful
servants.
(2) Moses
was not given a pass; closeness to God is a responsibility, not a license to
sin. Am. 3:2
b. When the LORD confronted
Moses and Aaron, He said:
(1) You did
not believe Me.
(a) Their crime was not outright denial of God, but belief includes obedience;
they cannot be separated.
(b) If you believe God, you obey God. True faith cannot exist without works.
(cf. Do you love? 1Co. 13)
(2) You did
not sanctify Me.
(a) To sanctify or hallow God is to treat Him as holy, to exalt Him as God
personally and publicly.
(b) Though they failed to honor God, the LORD was sanctified in grace and in
judgment. 20:13
3. Since God is holy, we must demonstrate our faith by
sanctifying Him in our words and actions.
I.
Sanctifying the LORD with Our Speech
A.
We Must Acknowledge His Uniqueness
1.
The holiness of God can be difficult to define, but it certainly includes
His uniqueness. 1Sa. 2:2
a)
Understanding the holiness of God should make us more reserved in our
speech. 1Sa. 2:3
b)
There is no one like the LORD, and we are fools if we exalt ourselves
before Him.
2.
We must enlarge our view of God and see Him as He is: high and holy and
beyond compare.
a)
Frustration and suffering often make men speak rashly, bitterly, or
arrogantly.
b)
Job confessed his error in speaking foolishly from ignorance. Job
42:1-6
3.
Our speech is to recognize the uniqueness and glory of God; our prayers
should reflect it.
a)
The Pharisee prayed as though God was privileged to hear his prayer.
Lk. 18:11-12
b)
Our Savior recommended a simpler, more circumspect approach to God.
Mt. 6:5-13
4.
The holiness of God is enough to bring better men than us to their knees.
a)
Isaiah bemoaned his unworthiness to stand before the holy God. Is.
6:1-5
b)
John fell like a dead man before the glorified Son of God. Re. 1:10-17
5.
To truly sanctify the LORD God, our speech must reverently acknowledge
His uniqueness.
B.
We Must Acknowledge His Blessing
1.
Moses was instrumental in bringing water, but his words made him more
than just an instrument.
a)
Moses’ speech claimed credit for what God was doing thru him on behalf of
the people.
b)
Despite Moses’ sin, God gave the people water; He was glorified in grace
and in judgment.
2.
We must enhance our perception of God’s work within the world and within
our lives.
a)
I’m not recommending mysticism or reading the tea leaves of providence
authoritatively.
b)
But we need to become more aware of God’s presence and providence in our
daily affairs.
3.
Christians ought never to speak of being lucky; luck has nothing to do
with our success!
a)
Good gifts come from God; the Father gives us our good things to enjoy.
Ja. 1:17; Mt.
7:11
b)
How does receiving something good and calling it
luck glorify God? It doesn’t.
4.
We may be uncomfortable with referring to God in our daily speech, but
isn’t it proper to do so?
a)
References to God should never become common and certainly never flippant
or casual.
b)
Say it and mean it: “God be with you. The Lord is good.
Praise God. If the Lord wills.”
5.
To truly sanctify the LORD God, our speech must humbly acknowledge His
blessings.
II.
Sanctifying the LORD with Our Conduct
A.
We Must Obey God’s Will
1.
Neither Moses’ speech nor his actions were in harmony with God’s will.
a)
As a meek man who communed closely with God, Moses understood the sin of
irreverence.
b)
As a lawgiver who recorded God’s precepts carefully, Moses understood
God’s command.
2.
It won’t be an unfamiliar passage that condemns us; it will be one we
knew but didn’t obey.
a)
Even professing believers will be cast out for failing to do the Father’s
will. Mt. 7:21-23
b)
It is not enough to call Jesus Lord; we must honor and obey His word.
1Jn. 2:3-6; Lk. 6:46
3.
Faith and obedience are inseparably linked in the teaching of scripture.
Jas. 2:21-24; Ro. 1:5
a)
How warped has man’s theology become to deny that obedience is connected
to salvation?!
b)
We are saved by grace thru faith, but faith obeys God; it saves when
we obey or not at all!
4.
Am I truly obeying God? Am I devoting myself to His will? Am I submitting
to all He demands?
a)
It is fairly easy to learn sound doctrine and obey scriptural forms of
baptism and worship.
b)
But am I obeying God’s will for my heart and character, changing who I
am? 2Pe. 1:2-11
5.
To truly sanctify the LORD God, our behavior must conform to and act upon
His will.
B.
We Must Yield to His Wisdom
1.
Moses was frustrated by the people’s carnality. Who wouldn’t be in his
shoes? Ps. 106:33
a)
Time after time Moses had restrained his temper and pleaded God’s mercy
for the nation.
b)
But this time his patience was gone, his passions aroused, and he spoke
ill-advisedly.
2.
Did Moses indulge his pride for a moment? Did he allow himself to feel
superior to the people?
a)
It would be hard not to be puffed up by the position, making his humility
more remarkable.
b)
But Moses’ restraint slipped, even if only briefly, and it exposed him to
divine judgment.
3.
It may be hard for us to be patient with the plan and providence of God;
we may wish for more.
a)
God makes all things beautiful in His time, but we often want things
fixed in our time.
b)
We become frustrated; we grow impatient; our self-control weakens, and we
sin.
4.
It would have been easier if the LORD had struck the generation dead in
one day.
a)
He could have done so; even nineteen year olds could conquer Canaan with
God’s help.
b)
But God waited; Moses spent forty years dealing with carnal, impenitent,
dying people.
5.
I suspect we would have lost our cool long before this day, and probably
many other times.
a)
It may be hard wait on God, but we must wait contentedly for His wisdom
to be vindicated.
(1)
Brethren won’t always be what you wish they would be today, but be
patient.
(2)
Discipline won’t always seem effective for the present generation, but
wait a little.
b)
Don’t give up on His plan just because it takes a long time; stay the
course; patiently endure.
6.
To truly sanctify the LORD God, our behavior must be submissive to His
perfect wisdom.
Call to Action
1. We all know the story of Moses’ sin at Meribah-Kadesh,
but it sounds a warning that often goes unheeded.
a. We are to sanctify the LORD
God both in words and in actions; if we fail, we fail in our supreme task.
b. Why is disobedience a big
deal? Because to disobey God is to treat Him as common,
rather than as holy.
2. God will be glorified whether in delivering grace to His
people or judgment to His adversaries. Ro. 14:11
a. Even Moses, one of God’s
greatest servants, was punished sternly by the LORD for his sin.
b. But though the sentence was
carried out, Moses was forgiven by God; His grace is greater than our sin.
3. What will you receive from the Lord on the day when you
stand before Him? (Mk. 16:16; Ac. 2:38)
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